#Also guzi chose to go with Qi Rong when Tonglu Mountain opened

[doctorlafayette]

I have more thoughts on the whole "Xie Lian is bad with kids" thing. The only times we see Xie Lian with a kid when he is not in the middle of a crisis, a war, and/or dealing with the worst luck imagineable it is with Hong'er. Every interaction he has with Hong'er is a good interaction too. Like could he have done better? Sure! But he was 17 and not a licensed child psychologist lol. Not to mention all the trusted people in his life were telling him to throw Hong'er to the dogs. In their first interaction after catching Hong'er, Xie Lian comforts him and tells him not to be afraid. Then he doesn't let anyone punish Hong'er for ruining the parade. He asks Hong'er about his parents and only sends him away when Mu Qing says that he has a home. In their next meeting after saving Hong'er from Qi Rong, he makes sure Hong'er gets medical attention and takes Hong'er with him since he didn't have anywhere safe to stay. Plus, at Taicang Mountain Xie Lian reassures Hong'er that it's not his fault that the evil spirits escaped even though his teacher said Hong'er was bad luck. After his accession, he makes sure Hong'er eats and gives him a reason to live.

All this is to say that I don't think Xie Lian is bad with kids when he isn't in impossible situations. He has a lot to learn (especially by modern standards), but he is not inherently bad with them. I don't think he wants any kids of his own anytime soon, but I wouldn't mind post-canon Xie Lian watching my kid with instructions as long as I packed snacks.